Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

The Apostle John tells us that when we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us of all our sins. But what is true confession of sin? First, it is based on true repentance. Paul says that there is a worldly sorrow that leads to death and a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance. What is the difference? The worldly sorry is when we are sorry we got caught and that we have to suffer the consequences for our action. It does not imply any feeling of guilt or true remorse for the action. Godly sorrow is when we recognize that our action was wrong and we have true regret for having done it because it was wrong. So our sorrow must be a Godly sorrow which leads us to true repentance. We then confess our sin to God.

David committed adultery, lied about it and then had the woman’s husband killed. As if this were not enough, he married the woman because she was carrying his baby. God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his sin. This psalm is written in his remorse as he contemplated what he had done.

Notice that he did not say he was sorry if he had sinned. He did not say he had made a mistake in judgment. He did
not blame Bathsheba because she was beautiful or because she gave in to him too easily. He did not blame the society, his position as king, his past or his parents.

David said he had sinned and his sin was ever before him. That is, he could not get it out of his mind. He also said he had sinned against God and him only. This is not a denial of his sin against Bathsheba or her late husband, Uriah. It is recognition that when we do wrong toward others, the real sin is against God. Since God is the ultimate source of what is right and wrong, our failure to live up to it makes it sin against him. When we do wrong, let’s sorrow (Godly sorrow) for it, repent (turn from it), and then confess our guilt to God. He has promised that he will forgive us completely.

O God, I know that I do things that are wrong. Give me wisdom and honesty of heart to recognize and admit when I sin. Give me courage to not make excuses or blame others for my failure. Give me a pure heart that I will not want to do those things that are not pleasing to you. Give me strength to overcome temptation. Use me in your will. I pray in Jesus’ name.

May God bless each of us with an honest and good heart toward him.